Shop with a Cop event pays for children’s Christmas

December 17, 2018

Written by NATE SMITH

Area law enforcement teamed up Saturday to brighten the holidays for a group of local children with the purchase of Christmas gifts from Wal-Mart, 2281 S. Main St., and in a real show of Christmas spirit, many of those children used their allocation to pick out gifts for other members of their family.

Landon Mitchell looks through a selection of remote control toys Saturday with Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy Sarah Dague, as Russells Point police officer Natasha Mays examines shelves during the shop with a cop event at Wal-Mart, 2281 S. Main St. The annual event pays for Christmas gifts for children from local schools. (EXAMINER PHOTO | NATE SMITH)

Law enforcement agencies raised money to give toward children’s Christmas presents, based on referrals from local schools. Saturday, six children were paired with personnel from the Bellefontaine Police Department; Logan County Sheriff’s Office; Ohio State Highway Patrol; and Russells Point and Washington Township police departments to select Christmas gifts for themselves and anyone else they wanted to buy for.

Dalton Brannum, a third-grade student at Indian Lake made sure to select a gift for his older sister, along with pink earrings for his Mom.

Previously, the Fraternal Order of Police Hi-Point Lodge 60 used funds donated as part of a Christmas tree auction at Heartland of Bellefontaine. In the absence of that event this year, funds were raised internally within the organization to pay for the event.

“Every kid deserves a Christmas, and we believe in doing everything possible to help make that happen,” Bellefontaine police officer Allen Huffman said. “It’s great to watch the generosity of spirit of the kids, too, because they’re out there making sure they get gifts for their loved ones, as well.”